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ByTheWay,
that's not usually necessary because, usually, within your httpd.conf, I know you cannot access it though, you have this:

#
# The following lines prevent .htaccess files from being viewed by
# Web clients. Since .htaccess files often contain authorization
# information, access is disallowed for security reasons. Comment
# these lines out if you want Web visitors to see the contents of
# .htaccess files. If you change the AccessFileName directive above,
# be sure to make the corresponding changes here.
#
# Also, folks tend to use names such as .htpasswd for password
# files, so this will protect those as well.
#
<Files ~ "^\.ht">
Order allow,deny
Deny from all
Satisfy All
</Files>

so what you wrote is not necessary at all.
Remove that rewrite rule and try to use:www.example.com/.htaccess
you should not read the content of your .htaccess

In case you can read the content of your .htaccess,
then use the rule I wrote but make as your first priority the search of a new hosting company for your site